# Why Did CNN Start Seperating Delegates
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-cnn-start-seperating-delegates/438339
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 20, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-cnn-start-seperating-delegates/438339 "2008-02-20T00:30:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-cnn-start-seperating-delegates/438339/1 "2008-02-20T00:30:19Z")
into pledged and superdelegates on their main page, here: [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/)
Or, the corollary, why didn’t they do it before?
---
### Author:  [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-cnn-start-seperating-delegates/438339/2 "2008-02-20T01:04:58Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger]
Why did CNN start separating delegates into pledged and superdelegates on their main page, here: [Election Center 2008 - Election Results & Politics News from CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/)
[/quote]
1. Superdelegates are less firmly pledged to their candidates than delegates won in primaries and caucuses, and so merit separate listing.
2. People want to know, because the superdelegate concept has become controversial as the race continues to be close, with the possibility of a majority of superdelegates opposing a majority of voter-chosen delegates.
> [@Santo Rugger](#):
>
> Or, the corollary, why didn’t they do it before?
Because nobody cared. We lived through the previous four elections without anyone giving a rip about superdelegates.
---
### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-cnn-start-seperating-delegates/438339/3 "2008-02-20T01:15:22Z")
Because CNN is the Clinton News Network. When the delegates were combined, Clinton looked good because she had the bigger number. Now that she’s way behind in the pledged delegates, she looks somewhat better with the delegates separated because she’s still ahead in the superdelegates.
---
### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-cnn-start-seperating-delegates/438339/4 "2008-02-20T18:32:02Z")
[QUOTE=asterion]
Because CNN is the Clinton News Network. When the delegates were combined, Clinton looked good because she had the bigger number. Now that she’s way behind in the pledged delegates, she looks somewhat better with the delegates separated because she’s still ahead in the superdelegates.
[/QUOTE]
Gah, board timeout ate my response…
To me, it makes her look -worse-, because it shows that the people want Obama, but the DNC wants Hillary (even though polls are showing her behind McCain?). I thought there would be a more elaborate answer, but I think you’re right, it’s just that simple.